Eight-times champion Karrie Webb out of Ladies Masters golf tournament

A busy US LPGA schedule will force champion golfer Karrie Webb to miss only her fourth Ladies Masters in 26 years on the Gold Coast next month.

Women's Australian Open Final round at Victoria Golf Club. Karrie Webb 2nd shot at 18. Pic Michael Klein.. Sunday Febuary 16, 2014.

EIGHT-times champion Karrie Webb won’t be returning to her favourite stamping ground on the Gold Coast next month.

It has been confirmed the star north Queenslander will miss only her fourth RACV Ladies Masters in 26 years because of a busy schedule on the US LPGA Tour.

Webb’s outstanding record at Royal Pines was scarred last year when she was disqualified for signing an incorrect scorecard after the second round and left the course in tears.

Webb’s manager Tony Bouffler yesterday said Webb would play in four LPGA Tour events in six weeks which effectively ruled out a Masters campaign.

Webb has committed to the new Coates Championship in Florida later this month, then will have two weeks off before tackling the LPGA-sanctioned Australian Open, followed by further LPGA events in Thailand and Singapore, from February 19 to March 8.

Webb, who turned 40 in December, has been the face of the Masters because of her outstanding record.

“Obviously I’m disappointed and the Australian Ladies Professional Golfers are disappointed their number one player will not be here,” tournament chairman Bob Tuohy said yesterday.

“We can’t do much about the mighty LPGA schedule and we’ll miss her but we can’t hang our hats on Karrie.”

ALPG chief executive Karen Lunn said Webb owed Australian golf nothing because of her commitment to the game here.

“She played four events in a row last year because she was the defending Masters champion and this was a difficult decision for her,” Lunn said.

Meanwhile, former top-flight Australian Rachel Hetherington is on the comeback trail looking to play in the ­Ladies Masters and the Australian Open.

Hetherington, eight times a winner on the US LPGA Tour and three times on the Ladies European Tour, plans to use a series of pro-ams to prepare her for the major two events on the Australian calendar.

Hetherington, 42, who now runs a golf driving-range at west Tweed Heads, has entered for pro-ams at Yamba, McLeod Country Club (Brisbane), Moss Vale, Castle Hill and Pennant Hills.